Declan "Deccers" Rice: Page 30 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Declan "Deccers" Rice

Gazza M

I don't recall him giving the ball away, taking a poor touch or making a bad decision. can't recall many arsenal players down the years who held their nerve so well at anfield.

imagine being top of the table with partey missing most of the games. would've been unthinkable last season

flobaba

That 3 v 1 breakaway Liverpool had after Zinchenko gave the ball away would have been a sure goal if not for his ability to cover ground and stay in the play defensively. Boss baller. Best in his position in world football.

Gurgen

The first 100m bargain in football history

QuincyAbeyie

Gurgen that would be Bellingham.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

The battle for player of the season between Rice and Saliba is going to be fascinating.

HomeSteak

What do you guys think about him at 8 and Partey at 6? I have a feeling that he would be world class as an 8 as well, protect Zinchenko and help out Martinelli while also scoring more and assisting more then Havertz. But he is just so good in his role now, no idea if we should move him

Sicario2 - Tier 1

HomeSteak

It’s great until Partey breaks down 2 games later. Rice can definitely play 8 but we will be let down by the Ghanaian.

Claudius

HomeSteak we are playing our best midfield as it is. Partey’s done. He will be nice cover after the AFCON with his passing but he cannot match the physicality of Rice, Odegaard and Havertz. These 3 make us impenetrable and are a large part of why we have so much control and stability as a group.

Qwiss

HomeSteak he's played 8 for us quite a bit this season and IMO its where he had his best games. His main weakness in midfield is when the midfield gets clogged up and he can't find a quick positive pass like Partey does, if you have both their skillsets together then I think we end up having an almost impossibly good midfield.

Clrnc

There's no DM in the world I would exchange Rice for him. Not even Rodri.

lorddulaarsenal

England are blessed

QuincyAbeyie

Partey is much better.

goon

QuincyAbeyie

Than Rice?

That’s a mad comment. If there’s 6 aspects to what makes a good 6, Partey maybe shades a couple of them.

Anyway, the way Zinchenko is playing, I’m hoping people open up to Partey at RB again.

est

goon Anyway, the way Zinchenko is playing, I’m hoping people open up to Partey at RB again.

Yeah, that would be just as stupid as it was in August.

Just play Partey-Rice-Odegaard as a midfield trio. Play Kiwior or even Havertz at LB. Won't be any worse off defensively, at least he can win some headers.

Claudius

goon no he was trying to say Partey is better than Havertz. But Havertz is a much more athletic workhorse than Partey. The kid never stops running, all game long. A large part of why we are recovering and retaining the ball so well. And he’s able to do it for 90 minutes

Partey can’t do that. We’ve discussed his in-game and in-season endurance and fitness issues before.

QuincyAbeyie

goon no, than Havertz.

goon

est

Why is it stupid? I genuinely don’t understand what the objection is. When we’re on the ball he will basically be in midfield.

Certainly doesn’t have any more drawbacks than moving the best 6 in the league and telling him to spend most of his time in the final third getting into the box.

QuincyAbeyie

Claudius the you play the better player for 70 minutes. Do you think we often find ourselves in a situation where we want do make more subs but we can't because we've used them all?

goon

Claudius

Neither Partey nor Rice are final third players. There’s definitely aspects they’d do better in buildup, but that’s not what we’re trying to get out of the role.

The left 8 role is supposed to be very attacking, if Havertz isn’t the answer then we need to commit to trying the likes of ESR or Trossard, but the former will always play in big games because of his work rate and pressing.

Clrnc

Claudius he was trying to say Partey is better than Havertz. But Havertz is a much more athletic workhorse than Partey. The kid never stops running, all game long.

No. Partey can be as athletic and there are plenty of matches he don't stop running. Heck, there was even a match in the injury time he literally turned on the afterburners ran past half a dozen of players to save us from conceding a goal.

Qwiss

Claudius Partey did it plenty last season. His injuries are a problem and a reason to move on in the summer but right now with the squad we have it'd be crazy to play Havertz over Partey when both are fit. Unless Havertz can start giving us something on the ball he should never be seen as automatic starter. If we want to be a team that can win titles and really challenge for CLs our levels need to be higher in midfield. Odegaard and Rice are the standard, Partey was that good when fit last season, Havertz hasn't reached that level yet.

est

goon Well the objection is that I don't agree that Rice is a "6". He's a box-to-box midfielder that covers the entire pitch with his range. Whereas Partey is actually a deep-lying playmaker type player. Playing him in his natural position(where he has been the best player in the League previously), would give Rice much more freedom and would free him from having to babysit Zinchenko all the time.

I really don't buy the reasoning that they can't play together in midfield. I'm sure they can and they'd be great together. The fact that they haven't so far, is only because Arteta was hell-bent on shoe-horning Havertz into the team.

Claudius

QuincyAbeyie sorry I don’t understand what you are saying.
We don’t even make subs right now because we don’t have enough options with Tomi, Partey and Timber out. Those are the exact 3 players we need healthy

QuincyAbeyie

Claudius I'm not arguing that we should play Partey while he's injured, so the discussion is clearly about what to do while he's fit. And when he is, it doesn't matter whether Partey can run for 90 minutes. Sub in Havertz when he can't.

Claudius

goon nailed it. He also does off the ball runs into the box, is available to get the ball long from Raya, can attack crosses, etc. There are so many weapons he gives us from that L8 that neither Declan nor Partey can.

And his defensive numbers are already far better than Xhaka’s last season. It’s already an upgrade from last season. Kid is an asset

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